does Animate Dead work with Sun Titan

Asked by rurouni-7291 7 years ago

Will Animate Dead resolve when returned from the grave with Sun Titan

GearNoir says... Accepted answer #1

Yes, Animate Dead will resolve when brought back to the battlefield by Sun Titan and allow you to bring a creature out of a graveyard.

Ruling:

• 303.4f If an Aura is entering the battlefield under a players control by any means other than by resolving as an Aura spell, and the effect putting it onto the battlefield doesnt specify the object or player the Aura will enchant, that player chooses what it will enchant as the Aura enters the battlefield. The player must choose a legal object or player according to the Auras enchant ability and any other applicable effects.

November 6, 2016 11:36 p.m.

BlueScope says... #2

The phrasing is a bit weird here, to say the least... it won't resolve (only spells and abilities on the stack may resolve), but Sun Titan's ability will attempt to put it on the battlefield. Because of rule 303.4f that's quoted above, you get to choose a target for the Aura, which has to be a creature in your graveyard. If you do, Animate Dead enters the battlefield attached to the creature in your graveyard, it's ETB ability triggers. Assuming it resolves (and isn't Stifled, for example), it returns enchanted creature to the battlefield and does all the glorious other things described on the card.

If you're not able to choose a creature as a target as it enters the battlefield, 303.4g applies:

303.4g. If an Aura is entering the battlefield and there is no legal object or player for it to enchant, the Aura remains in its current zone, (...)

And if it is Stifled, the ability is countered (and therefore will not resolve), and Animate Dead will remain on the battlefield, enchanting a creature in a graveyard with no particular benefit.

November 7, 2016 4 a.m.

BlueScope says... #3

@GearNoir: As a small nitpick - 303.4f is not a ruling, but a rule. Rulings are official interpretation of the rules that are listed on the Gatherer page of the affected cards, and while they're valid sources to resolve questions where applicable, they're not part of the rules themselves.

November 7, 2016 4:04 a.m.

rurouni-7291 says... #4

Ok thank you very much that clears alot up

November 7, 2016 7:53 a.m.

Epochalyptik says... #5

Note that the process of putting an aura onto the battlefield from a zone other than the stack does not cause you to choose targets. You choose an object the aura could legally enchant, but this process does not target that object.

November 7, 2016 10:51 a.m.